FC: So much for FBI warning of Internet attack that never happened

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Wed Aug 07 2002 - 07:37:12 PDT

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    To be fair to the FBI, they now have a strong incentive (especially after 
    we learned about the bureau's lack of internal communications before Sept. 
    11) to sent out warnings -- just in case. If the FBI failed to do so and 
    the public found out, you can imagine the repercussions. But at the same 
    time, sending out warnings of vaporous threats that never materialize also 
    can damage the FBI's credibility.
    
    Previous Politech message:
    
    "Network admins respond to FBI attack warning: 'More FUD!'"
    http://www.politechbot.com/p-03852.html
    
    -Declan
    
    ---
    
    Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 09:54:43 -0400
    From: "Neil Kohl" <nkohlat_private>
    To: <politechat_private>, <declanat_private>
    Subject: Re: FC: Network admins respond to FBI attack warning: "More FUD!"
    
    Declan,
    
    The "attack" was a nonstarter:
    
    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Internet-Attacks.html
    
    The AP article mentions Dshield, which is the first place to check for 
    signs of a general attack. Dshield is part of the Internet Storm Center at 
    http://www.incidents.org/. The site analyzes logs from 3000 firewalls 
    around the world. It also collects news items and maintains a database of 
    intrusion attempts.
    
    The Internet Storm Center wouldn't show attacks against a specific ISP or 
    domain unless they happen to be one of the monitored firewalls, but should 
    show a general attack against a number of ISPs.
    
    
    Neil Kohl
    Manager, ACP-ASIM Online
    American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine
    nkohlat_private              215.351.2638, 800.523.1546 x2638
    
    
    
    
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